N00858:40
The fear of an oath. Or, Some cautions to be used about swearing, if…
The fear of an oath. Or, Some cautions to be used about swearing, if we would approve our selves truly godly. As it was discoursed in a sermon, preached at Boston, on the lecture; January 30. 1700,1. / By Samuel Willard, teacher of a church in Boston. ; [Two lines in Latin from Cicero]
printed for Nicholas Boone, 1701
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. He dares not to solicit, much less to hire any to Swear in a wrong cause. He doth not think it enough, himself to refrain from taking such an Oath, but is afraid of being any way instrumental of encouraging others so to do. He knows that what others do by his persuasion, if it be a Sin, will involve him in the Guilt of it, and expose him to the righteous Anger of God, which he dreads. If therefore he knows any to offer such a Testimony upon Oath, though there might accrue an outward advantage to himself by it, yet he rejects it with greatest detestation: and if any such false Oath be given within his Cognizance, he will, as far as lieth in his power, detect it, and testify against it. Much less then will he ask and bribe any thus to do. This was Jezebels Sin, in suborning Knights of the Post, to Swear honest Naboth ⟨p. 25⟩out of his Life and Living; and God threatens destruction upon her, and all her Family, for it: and he takes instruction by this. He loves his Neighbour too well, for him thus to ruin his Soul for ever; and he loves himself better, than thus to pull down Gods wrath on his own head.
2. He dares not to sollicit, much less to hire any to Swear in a wrong cause. He doth not think it enough, himself to refrain from taking such an Oath, but is afraid of being any way instrumental of encouraging others so to do. He knows that what others do by his perswasion, if it be a Sin, will involve him in the Guilt of it, and expose him to the righteous Anger of God, which he dreads. If therefore he knows any to offer such a Testimony upon Oath, though there might accrue an outward advantage to himself by it, yet he rejects it with greatest detestation: and if any such false Oath be given within his Cognizance, he will, as far as lyeth in his power, detect it, and testify against it. Much less then will he ask and bribe any thus to do. This was Jezebels Sin, in suborning Knights of the Post, to Swear honest Naboth ⟨p. 25⟩out of his Life and Living; and God threatens destruction upon her, and all her Family, for it: and he takes instruction by this. He loves his Neighbour too well, for him thus to ruine his Soul for ever; and he loves himself better, than thus to pull down Gods wrath on his own head.